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Mr Leach, 29, said: “Each bike carries a huge variety of equipment, from bandages and aspirin to oxygen and an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED, which is also used to restart people’s hearts.”

Potential recruits are trained to cope with the skills and physical exertions of the job.

Mr Leach said: “We train them up to the Bikeability Level 3 and also carry out some fitness training, including a 1km sprint bike ride followed by a full CPR session.

“We need everyone to be at the same standard.”

One of Oxford’s cycle responders is Craig Raven, 31, who has been part of the team for four years.

The Witney traffic officer said: “I wanted to try something different and try out the medical response bikes. They’re perfectly designed for areas that are difficult to get through with an ambulance.

“A lot of pedestrianised areas are big, dangerous areas where you can’t go quickly. With a bike you can take shortcuts.”

Lucy Bruzzone led a unit of cycle responders in 2012.

She said: “We are finding that more and more events are benefiting from them being on hand to reach casualties far more quickly than a team on foot can.”

There will be courses on April 12 and July 7 and 8 to train up new volunteers to allow them to become cycle responders. For more information contact Mr Leach on 07747 766554 or email peter.leach@sja.org.uk